Actress Shamna Kasim Pays Emotional Tribute to Kerala Dance Student Who Died of FIRES.
Dubai: A seven-year-old Grade 1 student from The Indian High School’s junior campus in Al Garhoud has left her school community heartbroken, with teachers, family friends and loved ones remembering a cheerful young girl whose dreams included becoming an actress.
Ameya Ajith died on the night of September 14 following a 45-day battle in intensive care in Kerala, where she had travelled with her parents, Ajith KP and Meera Ajith, for a holiday.
According to her family, Ameya’s health deteriorated after she began experiencing seizures on July 30. Doctors later diagnosed her with Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome (FIRES), an extremely rare neurological condition estimated to affect around one in a million children.
Her death prompted an outpouring of grief and heartfelt tributes from those who knew her, including members of her school community and her dance teacher, who remembered her for her bright personality, passion for dance and aspirations for the future.
Ameya’s funeral was held on Tuesday in her hometown in Kerala, where family members and loved ones gathered to bid her a final farewell.
Remembered for her bright spirit
Punit MK Vasu, CEO of The Indian High Group of Schools, told Gulf News that Ameya had a remarkable ability to bring joy to those around her. He remembered her as a lively and gentle child whose warm personality quickly won the hearts of everyone she met.
Ameya was also remembered as a bright student who performed well academically and enthusiastically participated in co-curricular activities, with dance being especially close to her heart.
Her teachers described her as a cheerful and inquisitive learner whose infectious smile could lift the spirits of those around her. Her supervisor and headmistress fondly recalled how she would greet them with a playful “Toodles!” — a simple gesture that has now become a treasured memory.
Punit MK Vasu, CEO of The Indian High Group of Schools, said the school community had remained hopeful throughout Ameya’s illness, praying that she would recover and return to the classroom.
He said the realisation that she would not be coming back had left the entire school community heartbroken. As they mourn alongside Ameya’s family, he said she would be remembered for the happiness, warmth and affection she shared with those around her. Though deeply missed, her memory would continue to hold a special place within the school community.
‘She dreamed of becoming an actress’
Malayalam actress and dancer Shamna Kasim, who shared an emotional tribute following Ameya’s death, struggled to hold back tears as she spoke to Gulf News about her young student.
Shamna said Ameya was affectionately known as “Aami” by those close to her, though she had her own special nickname for the seven-year-old — “Sundari,” meaning beautiful. She noted that glimpses of Ameya’s love for dance could still be seen in reels shared on the studio’s social media page.
Remembering her as a talented child with a deep passion for dancing, Shamna said Ameya often spoke about her dream of one day becoming an actress, inspired by her teacher.
Ameya had been learning Bharatanatyam from the early days of Shamna’s dance studio and had grown into one of its cherished young students.
Ameya eagerly embraced every opportunity to perform. She was a regular participant in the studio’s annual day celebrations and had also appeared in the Proud to be Indian programme organised by Asianet TV. The young dancer had also completed her chilanka pooja, a traditional milestone marking a student’s progress in classical dance.
Dance studio falls silent
The dance studio had been eagerly awaiting Aami’s return from her vacation and was already making preparations for its next annual day celebration in November when the devastating news of her death reached them.
Shamna said she had remained hopeful about Ameya’s recovery until the very end. She had checked in with the family only a week earlier, when Ameya’s parents were still optimistic that their daughter would recover.
Following news of Ameya’s death on Tuesday, the studio cancelled its classes as teachers and students mourned the loss of their much-loved young dancer.
“I had to travel because of a prior commitment, but I am making the journey with a heavy heart,” an emotional Shamna said.
Best friend waits for her
Greeshma Roby, mother of Ameya’s closest friend Serah, recalled the special bond the two girls had shared since they were just two-and-a-half years old.
Their friendship began during their babysitting days and continued through nursery, when they would spend much of their time together. Even after enrolling in different schools, the girls remained close and later joined the same dance institute. Their bond also brought their families together, with regular visits for birthdays, celebrations and family gatherings.
Greeshma said Serah was so attached to Aami that she often agreed to attend activities only if her best friend would be there too. Throughout Ameya’s prolonged absence, Serah continued to wait for her return, holding on to the expectation that the two friends would soon be together again.
Greeshma remembered Ameya as an intelligent, cheerful and well-mannered child whose loss had left both her and her husband, Roby, devastated.
“She was like a daughter to me. The news came as a terrible shock. I had never seen my husband so emotional,” she said, reflecting on how deeply Ameya’s death had affected their family.
‘She captured everyone’s hearts’
Namitha Venugopal, a longtime friend of Ameya’s mother, Meera, said their friendship dated back to the years when they worked in the same building in the UAE. Although they later moved to different companies, the two remained close through phone calls and messages, frequently sharing updates about their children and family life.
Namitha said Ameya was at the centre of Meera’s world and had endeared herself to everyone in their circle. Even those who had never met the young girl personally felt connected to her through the photographs and videos her mother regularly shared.
“She won everyone’s hearts. We all loved seeing the photos and videos Meera posted of her,” Namitha recalled.
Namitha struggled to comprehend how such a rare illness could strike a child who had previously been healthy and had no known medical conditions. She said the tragedy felt especially devastating for Ameya’s parents and that it was difficult to imagine the depth of their grief.
Those who shared their memories of Ameya said their thoughts and prayers remained with her parents and loved ones during this difficult time. They prayed for the family to find strength in the days ahead and for Ameya’s soul to rest in eternal peace.
